Kevin Copeland, a 17-year old football player at Dorsey High School in Los Angeles, collapsed on the playing field during a game against San Pedro High Friday night and died of cardiac arrest at San Pedro Peninsula Hospital. Copeland's father, Ron, an NCAA hurdles champion and a football star at UCLA, died in 1975 at the age of 28. He suffered a heart attack only one week after his father, Kevin's grandfather, had died of heart disease.

Kevin Copeland could be the poster child for the persistence-wears-down-resistance campaign. And on that poster he would undoubtedly be sporting a milk mustache. A longtime soft drink salesman, Copeland is now the nation's only African American owner of a full-service dairy. On May 1, his Copeland Beverage Group Inc. took over the former Santee Dairies plant on 19 acres in South-Central Los Angeles.

Kyle Copeland sits in the bleachers at all Dorsey High football games and wonders if he took part in the action, would it cost him his life? Although Copeland, 16, longs for the opportunity to show off his athletic ability, his mother, doctor and school officials have denied him the chance. A family history of undetected heart disease is the reason, but he says he is willing to take the gamble. "If I had my way, I'd play sports," said Copeland, a junior.

This football season in the Southland will be remembered for the deaths of three outstanding players. In late August, Raider safety Stacey Toran, 27, was killed in an automobile accident; last month, University of Colorado quarterback Sal Aunese, 21, from the San Diego Area, died of stomach cancer, and Friday night, Kevin Copeland, 17, of Dorsey High School died apparently of heart failure during a game against San Pedro. Copeland's family has a history of heart problems.

Kyle Copeland sits in the bleachers at all Dorsey High football games and wonders if he took part in the action, would it cost him his life? Although Copeland, 16, longs for the opportunity to show off his athletic ability, his mother, doctor and school officials have denied him the chance. A family history of undetected heart disease is the reason, but he says he is willing to take the gamble. "If I had my way, I'd play sports," said Copeland, a junior.

In the aftermath of the death of a Dorsey High School football star Friday night in San Pedro, those involved were in a state of mourning and shock. Kevin Copeland, an All-City receiver for Dorsey, died apparently of heart failure shortly after collapsing on the sideline during a game against San Pedro. He was 17. "We're all deeply saddened," said Mike Walsh, defensive coordinator for San Pedro. "I don't know how the kids will rebound from something like this.

Kevin Copeland could be the poster child for the persistence-wears-down-resistance campaign. And on that poster he would undoubtedly be sporting a milk mustache. A longtime soft drink salesman, Copeland is now the nation's only African American owner of a full-service dairy. On May 1, his Copeland Beverage Group Inc. took over the former Santee Dairies plant on 19 acres in South-Central Los Angeles.

Venice Co-Coaches Al Dellinger and Tony Chretin and their quarterback, Louis Jones, and Santa Monica center Eric Banducci won the top Westside honors at the annual Times high school football awards brunch. Dellinger and Chretin were named the area's coaches of the year, Jones back of the year and Banducci lineman of the year. The late Kevin Copeland of Dorsey High was honored in memory with the third annual Glenn Davis Award, given to the top high school football player in Southern California.

Venice Co-Coaches Al Dellinger and Tony Chretin and their quarterback, Louis Jones, and Santa Monica center Eric Banducci won the top Westside honors at the annual Times high school football awards brunch. Dellinger and Chretin were named the area's coaches of the year, Jones back of the year and Banducci lineman of the year. The late Kevin Copeland of Dorsey High was honored in memory with the third annual Glenn Davis Award, given to the top high school football player in Southern California.

This football season in the Southland will be remembered for the deaths of three outstanding players. In late August, Raider safety Stacey Toran, 27, was killed in an automobile accident; last month, University of Colorado quarterback Sal Aunese, 21, from the San Diego Area, died of stomach cancer, and Friday night, Kevin Copeland, 17, of Dorsey High School died apparently of heart failure during a game against San Pedro. Copeland's family has a history of heart problems.

In the aftermath of the death of a Dorsey High School football star Friday night in San Pedro, those involved were in a state of mourning and shock. Kevin Copeland, an All-City receiver for Dorsey, died apparently of heart failure shortly after collapsing on the sideline during a game against San Pedro. He was 17. "We're all deeply saddened," said Mike Walsh, defensive coordinator for San Pedro. "I don't know how the kids will rebound from something like this.

Kevin Copeland, a 17-year old football player at Dorsey High School in Los Angeles, collapsed on the playing field during a game against San Pedro High Friday night and died of cardiac arrest at San Pedro Peninsula Hospital. Copeland's father, Ron, an NCAA hurdles champion and a football star at UCLA, died in 1975 at the age of 28. He suffered a heart attack only one week after his father, Kevin's grandfather, had died of heart disease.

I would like to thank Mike Downey for his Dec. 19 column, "Sometimes, the Cheer Goes Out of the Holidays." Finally, a writer has shown his emotions regarding the tragic deaths of young athletes. In his column, Downey mentioned the death of 17-year-old Kevin Copeland. I was a childhood friend of Kevin and I can honestly say that he was one of the nicest boys that I've ever met. JIMMY BLACKMAN, Los Angeles

Four South Bay high school seniors have been selected to play for the South team in the 39th annual Shrine All-Star football game July 28 at the Rose Bowl. Carson wide receiver Michael Ross, Hawthorne running back Chris Alexander, Carson linebacker Nkosi Littleton and Serra defensive back Clayton Lopez were among 32 players chosen from Southern California. Dorsey wide receiver Kevin Copeland, who died of a heart attack during a game with San Pedro last season, was named an honorary member.